No decision yet on December 17 referendum — PNC

The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the People's National Convention (PNC) has said it has not taken any stance on the December 17, 2019, referendum.

It has, therefore, asked the public to ignore any position from any quarters other than that of NEC of the party.

A statement issued in Accra and signed by the leader of the party, Dr Edward Nasigre Mahama, indicated that the party was scheduled to meet soon and deal with the issue.

Mornah

In an interview with the Daily Graphic on October 16, 2019, the Chairman of the PNC, Mr Bernard Mornah, kicked against the upcoming referendum, indicating that although the party supported the election of metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives (MMDCEs), Ghana did not need to amend Article 55(3).

He said amending Article 55(3) of the Constitution would only allow political parties to participate in district elections which would “destroy the country’s multi-party system and promote a two-party system”.

Mr Mornah had also stated in other media interviews that the party would campaign for a ‘No’ vote.

Background

On December 17, this year, Ghanaians will head to the polls to vote in a referendum to amend Article 55 (3) of the Constitution.

On the same day of the referendum, there will be the election of members of the district assemblies and unit committees.

Article 55 (3) of the 1992 Constitution, which is an entrenched provision, states that “Subject to the provisions of this Article, a political party is free to participate in shaping the political will of the people, to disseminate information on political ideas, social and economic programmes of a national character; and sponsor candidates for election to any public office other than the district assemblies or lower local government units”.

This means individuals contesting elections at the local level can neither be sponsored by a political party nor stand for elections on the ticket of a political party.

The forthcoming referendum is, therefore, to amend the portion which prohibits election of local government officials including District Chief Executives (DCEs), from being elected on partisan political tickets.

Dr Mahama

But in his statement, the leader of the PNC said the National Chairman of the Party, Mr Bernard Mornah, had no powers to singlehandedly decide for the party on such a matter.

“It is only the NEC that can take such a conclusive decision,” it stated.

“It is important to note that the PNC is bigger than any individual and we shall prioritise the interest of the party above that of any individual or individuals,” it said.

The statement said the PNC was at the moment focused on the reorganisation of the party from the grass-roots level to the national level.

It said it would, therefore, not wish to jeopardise any opportunity that had the potency to revamp the party at the grass-roots level especially where the party had a larger following.